Sydney Morning Herald State Political Editor

"Recreational hunting in national parks is strongly opposed by other recreational users" ... Department of Environment advice. Photo: Andrew Meares

THE introduction of recreational hunting in national parks is likely to jeopardise public safety and drive out other users, according to confidential documents that raise questions about the state government's decision to open the areas to licensed shooters.

The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has announced 79 national parks and reserves will be opened to hunters to shoot feral deer, pigs, goats and cats under a deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party to secure their support for the government's electricity privatisation legislation.

The volunteer hunters must be licensed by the Game Council of NSW and comply with access conditions monitored by the Environment Minister, Robyn Parker. However, documents obtained by the Herald show experts in the Department of Environment warned in 2008 against allowing recreational hunting in national parks when the former government was being lobbied by the Shooters Party.

''National parks are open to the public for a wide variety of recreational uses, including walking, sightseeing, bicycle riding, horse riding and for use by amateur and professional conservationists,'' says the advice to the Labor government from the manager of of the department's pest management unit, Andrew Leys. ''Thus, there would be serious public safety implications if recreational hunting was allowed in national parks.''

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It also warns of ''the need to close parks for public safety reasons whenever hunters are present'' and a change in the public's perception of national parks which would lead to a decline in visitor numbers.

''Recreational hunting in national parks is strongly opposed by other recreational users and would be likely to lead to a decline in the use of the parks by these groups,'' the advice warns.

Mr O'Farrell has argued that under the government's proposal volunteer shooters will be strictly monitored.

''That does not mean that 79 national parks and reserves for 365 days a year every year are open to culling,'' he said on Wednesday.

''That will be controlled by the Minister for Environment who [will] stipulate the time, the type of pest, the hours of entry, all those things to ensure not only is public safety protected but there is proper regulation.''

But yesterday the union that represents park rangers announced it had directed its members ''not to assist with any activity involved with establishing recreational hunting in national parks in NSW''.

The general secretary of the Public Service Association of NSW, John Cahill, said the industrial action was due to the union's belief that the government's decision ''poses a serious risk to the safety of park rangers, visitors, wildlife and the environment''.

On Monday, park rangers will rally outside a community cabinet meeting due to be held in Bathurst.

The opposition yesterday criticised another aspect of the government's deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party whereby it will consider extending the types of bird species able to be hunted on private land to include the mallard duck.

However, a government spokesman said: ''They [the Shooters and Fishers Party] asked for legislative change in this area but the government did not agree. Rather we agreed to talk about the matter further.''